Improvement in hook-and-ladder trucks



3Sheets-- S heet 2. .l. A. KLEY G. V. H-. HIGGINS,

Hook and Ladder Truck.

N0. 166,H2 PatentedJuIy27 1875.

Inventors;-

NJETERS, PHOTDJJTHOGRAFMER. wAsnmeTou D d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN A. KLEY AND VAN H. HIGGINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE BABOOOK MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOK-AND-LADDER TRUCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,112, dated July 27, 1875; application filed May '7, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN A. KLEY and VAN H. HIGGINS, of the city of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hook-and-Ladder Trucks, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan "iew of the hinder portion of a hook-and-ladder truck, with the rear cross-bar broken off, and the upper crossbar removed to show the levers; Fig. 2, a side view of the guiding-lever; Fig. f), a side view; Fig. 4., an end view.

The object of this invention is to improve certain parts of the hook-and-ladder truck patented to John A. Kley andWellington Lee on the 7th day of July, 1874; and its nature consists in an improved combination of the guiding-levers, in an improved arrangement of the springs, and in the several combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents the sides of the main frame; B, the wheels; (3, the axles or journals of the wheels; D, the vertical shafts to which the axles are applied; E, the levers attached to the shafts D, and projecting inward; F, the cross-head connecting the levers E; G, the guiding-lever; H, the rod or cross-bar supporting the rear end of the guiding-lever; I, the steady rods or bars; J the posts on the upper side of the frame A; K L, bars or supports for the springs; M, the rear cross-springs; N, the side springs; O, the spring-bar; P, the cross-bar supporting the spring N; Q R, the cross-bars supporting the upper ends of the shafts D; S, the side rails; a, the pivot of the guiding-lever; b, the slots in the inner ends of the levers E; c, the pins passing through the slots 1); d, the handles of the guiding-lever; e, the clip for holding the guiding-lever down on the rod H; f, the clamp or attachment of the guiding-lever, for attaching it to the cross-head F; g, a collar on the rods or bars K; h, the pivot of the steady-bar I; z, the pivot of the steady-bar I to the crossbar Q. The wheels B, frame A, axles G, shafts D, and cross-rods for supporting the ladders in'position (not shown) are made similar to the corresponding parts shown and described in the before-mentioned patent. The shafts D are journaled in the bars P Q 1t. To the lower bar 1? we attach two ordinary leaf-springs, N, which are firmly attached to the bar P, and are connected together at their rear ends'by a similar spring, M, upon which rests a cross-bar, O, which is attached to the frame A by means of rods or bars L. The inner or front ends of the spring N are connected together by a simple stay-rod and are attached to the rods or bars K, by which they are held in position, and from which, with the cross-bars O and bars L, the frame is supported upon the springs. This manner of 0011- necting the frame with the supporting-springs permits not only a vertical movement to the frame, but also allows of a lateral or side movement. This side movement or spring, which we have found to be important, is still further facilitated by means of the steadyrods 1, which connect the upper end of the bars K with the cross-bar Q. These rods I are pivoted to the upper end of the bars K, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow a vertical movement, and also at i to the bar Q, so as to give a free lateral movement at that point. These rods I not only steady the frame and hold the bars supporting the upper ends of the shafts D in position, but also allow the frame to ride easily upon its supporting-springs without straining any of the parts.

We have improved the arrangement for guiding the truck by attaching levers E to the axle-shafts, and operating them by a crossh ead connected with a guiding-lever of sufficient length to give the steersman perfect control over the truck, and to enable him to handle it easily and quickly, The inner ends of the arms E are provided with slots 1), through which the pins on the outer ends of the crosshead F play with sufficient freedom to enable the operator to turn the wheels and levers, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, in either direction. The cross-head is pivoted at a, and the guide-lever is held down to the cross-rod H by the clip or loop 0, so as to relieve the steersman from unnecessary jar or vibration.

In constructing a full-sized machine we prothe bars K L, cross-bar P, and frame A, substantially as described.

3. The pivoted steady-rods I, in combination with the bars K and cross-bar Q, for holding the upper ends of the shafts D in position and allowing them to sway, substantially as set forth.

JOHN A. KLEY. VAN H. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEsT, O. W. BOND. 

